Stoee sebvice apparatus



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

- W. R. COLE.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

.No; 425,023.. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

(No Model.) -3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. R. COLE. STORE. SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 425,023. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

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w. R. COLE. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS,

No. 425,023. Patented Apr. 8,18%.

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UNITE STATES PATENT CFFIGE.

\VILLIAM R. COLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STORE RAILVAY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,023, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed June 12, 1889. Serial No. 314,021. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM R. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Nayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-S ervice Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

IO This invention relates to new and useful improvements in store-service apparatus of that class in which a single supporting wire track is used to connect the stations.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction of a double terminal track and a guide-rail; also in the construction of the devices used in propelling the car or carriage; also in the construction of the carriage and the detachable cash-box, and, further, in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of z 5 my improvement with the carriage locked in position. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on line cc 0:. Figs. 3 and t 'show modified constructions of the starter. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on 0 line 2 .e in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the carriage. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 1; o in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section on line a a in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section through one of the carriage-wheels. Fig. 11 is a plan 35, view of one station and the carriage; and Fig.

12 isa plan View of the central station, from which a number of tracks radiate.

A represents the standard, preferably. supported from the ceiling and having the guy- 4 ropes B.

' C and C are two clamping-plates, holding between them the bracket D by means of the bolts D. This bracket is bifurcated at its lower end to receive the pulley E, and is provided with the forwardly-projecting arms 1') and b, the arm I) being provided with a suitable bolt-hole and the arm Z) is provided with a curved slot 7). To these arms is secured by suitable bolts 0 the head F, to which the two-rail elevated track F is rigidly secured by suitable bolts 0, and the lower guide-rail F is also secured in a suitable abutment d.

It is evident that the head F and its connecting-rails F and F may be secured at an angular position to the bracket and held in position, the slot 1) allowing of such adjustment, the bolt 0 being used to hold it in its adjusted position.

e is a forward projection of the .head F, forming a guard for the carriage H.

f are curved springs secured to the headF between the rails to form a spring locking device for the carriage. The rails F are slightly inclined at their outer ends, and are provided with the depending lugs g and h, through which suitable bolts g and 71 are passed to secure the two parts firmly together. Between the lugs g is pivotally secured the wheel 2'. The straps j are passed around the guide-railF in suitable notches j andsecured to the lugs by means of the bolts h and g. The track-wire is secured between the lugs in the aperture 77.", suitable depressions 72, being made for the flanges of the track-wheels to pass. 7 5

J is the sliding starter, which I preferably construct as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consisting of the central body it, the bumpers k, and the apertures 75" and 70 The aperture 70" is of suitable size to receive the track-wire on which the starter slides, and in the aperture 70 is secured the end of the cord J. This cord passes forward and around the pulley "L and returns, passing over the pulley E, terminating in a suitable handle J. It will be observed this cord at all points of the loop which passes over the pulley 'i is between the upper and lower rails, thus being entirely out of the way of entanglement or damage.

My carriage consists of the two-part frame 0 K and K, secured together at the ends by means of suitable bolts 4." and by the central bolt 11. The track-wheels L are journaled in this frame, and preferably upon the same shaft and integral with the wheels L are the wheels L of smaller diameter than the trackwheels and of. suitable tread to run upon the elevated track-rails F. Suitable elastic bumpers M are seated at each end of the frame in a suitable receptacle formed therein. The part K of the frame is provided with a depending arm M, in which alower guide-wheel N is jou rnaled in vertical line with the track-wheels, and a suitable cap 0 for the cash-cup is rigidly secured at the lower part of the arm M. The detachable cash-cup I is provided with the pins Z, adapted to engage into suitable apertures m in the flange not the cap.

0 are locking-springs secured upon each side of the cap, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and having the depressed portion 1) over the apertures m. These springs rise gradually from that point on both sides to the point of attachment, all so arranged that when the pins Z are entered into the apertures by the operator it will be necessary to push the spring upward until the pins engage over the flange n. Then by turning the box P the pins will pass from under the depressed portion of the spring and be secured in position, as shown in Fig. 8 in dotted lines. In order to become detached again, it is evident that sufficient power must be used in turning the box to raise the depressed portion of the spring until the pins engage with the aperturesn. This construction allows of locking the cash-box to the cap by turning it in either direction and prevents the accidental falling out (by jarring or otherwise) of the cash-cup.

Q are bumpers on the carriage frame adapted to strike against the bumpers of the starter.

I preferably construct the wheels L as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, consisting of the body portion q, having a groove q, and the circular flanges 1' on either side of the wheel, forming the extended sides of the groove, these flanges being held in position by means of bolts or rivets s. The flanges or plates are made flush with the body portion by forming a shoulders. Central enlargements s are formed on each side of the track-wheels to take the friction of the elevated tracks, so that the flanges may not be damaged. The wheels L may be made in the same piece with the body of the wheels L but I preferably construct them of different material as a matter of economy and convenience in repairs. In this construction of wheel the circular flanges 0' receive most of the wear in use and can be readily replaced, while if the wheel were made all in one piece of vulcanized rubber or similar substance, as generally in use, when worn it has to be replaced with a new one, while with my construction the wheel is readily repaired. It also assists in preventing the wheel from jumping the track.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the starter, which consists of the apertured body 2, sliding on the guide-rails F, having a cord attached to the middle portion and provided with the bifurcated arms 25 on either side of the tracks F.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 consists of the body portion 11, the upwardly-projecting arms a, which have a slight engagement starter abutting against the bumpers of the carriage withdraws it from engagement in the spring-catch and propels it along the rail to the desired station. The starter remains at the end of its stroke until the carriage again comes to the station, when it is moved into the position shown in Fig. l by the momentum of the carriage. As the carriage reaches the double elevated track F, the wheel L, riding on the elevated track, lifts the carriage from the rail, as described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 389,772, granted to me September 13, 1887. At the same time the lowerguide-wheel N is brought into engagement upon the guide-rail F" and prevents any lateral movement while the operator is taking out and replacing the cashbox. This also prevents the possibility of the carriage jumping from the tracks at the terminals, and prevents damage to the springlatch.

My construction of the bracketand detachable head allows of repairs of adjustment with the least possible loss of time.

I preferably secure the track-wire in a suitable aperture in the bracket D by means of a set-screw a.

The use of the hangersj engaging into the notch j permits of a strong construction and at the same time gives a smooth surface for the guide-wheel to run upon.

It is evident that a series of these terminal tracks may be arranged by having suitably large plates 0 C, as shown in Fig. 12. It is also evident that where a single station is used the standard A may be engaged directly into the upper end of the bracket D.

By supporting the track-rail near the outer end of the elevated rails between the lugs {1 perfect parallelism is assured between the track-wire and the elevated tracks, and the stations are much more easily put in position. This also prevents any sagging of the track-wire, so that the wire is held in the proper relation to the elevated tracks to bring the wheels L upon the incline at the proper point.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a store-service apparatus, a hanger supporting a bracket, a head vertically and adjustably secured to said bracket, and terminal tracks secured to said head, substantially as described.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the standard supporting clamping-plates, a bracket secured between these plates, a vertically-adjustable head secured to the bracket, and

nation of the bracket, the head connected to said bracket, the two-rail track connected to the head, the track -wire connected to the bracket, the sliding starter mounted on the track-Wire, the cord for sliding said starter, and the carriage, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

5. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the bracket, the head connected thereto, the two-rail track adj ustably connected to the head, the. straps connecting the rails of said track, the track-wire connected to the bracket, the pulleys, the two-rail track and bracket, the cord passing over said pulleys, the starter mounted on the track-wire,having the bumpers and connected to the cord, and the carriage, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

6. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the hanger, the bracket in said hanger, the head connected to the bracket, the

two-rail track connected to the head, and the lugs in the said track, having apertures to receive the track-wire and depressionsforthc flanges of the carriage-Wheels, with the carriage and the starter, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of March, 1889.

WILLIAM R. COLE.

\Vitnesses:

P. M. HULBURT, ED. MCBREARTY. 

